Living in Japan Tip | Japanese Foods & Dining
Wagyu Beef in Japan
Needless to say, seafood dishes like Sushi are very popular in Japan.
But, nowadays, meat dishes are also very popular in Japan. When it comes to Japanese meat dishes, you might recall Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu.
However, the most popular beef dish in Japan now is definitely Yakiniku, or grilled beef in BBQ style. Yakiniku is basically Korean food, but has been adapted for the Japanese palette.
It is true that you can enjoy tasty beef dishes without coming to Japan, however, it is worth trying Wagyu Beef while in Japan.
The word Wagyu means Japanese beef cattle, but the Japanese also call all cattle Wagyu, in general. Kobe Beef is Wagyu beef and other famous brands of beef like Matsuzaka Beef and Maezawa Beef are also Wagyu beef. I also heard Kobe Beef is popular in New York, too.
Wagyu Beef in Japan is really tasty!
The top brand Wagyu cattle are bred with special care. On some farms, they are feed with beer. Some farms even play classical music, like Mozart, to relax the cattle. Stressed cows make lousy steak!
Also, the coat of the cow is brushed with Shochu (Japanese spirits) until shiny. Since most Wagyu have black hair, their bodies shine like black velvet. Of course, not every cow is cared like this, but they do receive special breeding than your average steer.
But, what I can confirm is that Wagyu beef is very tasty, tender and juicy. The marbled beef is also suitable for Yakiniku, as well as Sukiyaki.
To enjoy the richness of fresh Wagyu meat, it is best to eat without cooking, similar to eating fatty tuna, and other forms of Sushi.
Personally, I have my reservations of eating raw beef, and maybe you too.
The other down side of Wagyu meat is that it is very expensive!! Yes, Wagyu beef is very expensive, unfortunately. However, Wagyu beef ranks in the top brands of beef in Japan.
Even if you can't afford Kobe beef, you can enjoy other cuts of Wagyu beef at reasonable prices at many Yakiniku restaurants in Tokyo, many of these restaurants are near major transit or train stations. Remember there are some Yakiniku, or grilled beef restaurants, offering no Wagyu beef, so you should check beforehand.
So, If you are tired of Sushi, and want to try a new Japanese dining experience we recommend Yakiniku and Wagyu Beef.
